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During our drives through the park, we had many buffalo encounters. It was rutting season, and we watched many battles for a cute young female. At one point we were turned away from a path at the Mud Volcano because of an ornery buffalo. |
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| On another occasion, we and a wise old bird watched as they leisurely walked across a road blocking traffic for about fifteen minutes. |
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The Mud Volcano's were our first look at the thermal activity in the area |
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| The next stop along our trek was Artist Point and a look at the famous Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River. Paul went back twice for a closer look at the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and Tower Falls. We stopped by a bridge across the Yellowstone River on the way to Artist Point and watched the water gathering speed toward the upper falls. |
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At Artist Point we had a long range view of the Lower Falls and a close up look at the many colors of the surrounding rock bluffs. |
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Many pictures have been taken of the Lower Falls of Yellowstone. Here's a few more to add to the list. |
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In my quest to get close to and feel the falls, I took Uncle Tom's Trail, which included 528 steps among other steepness. The view was worth the effort. |
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Another spectacular view resulted from a steep climb to the brink of the Lower Falls. An observation platform allowed one to almost reach out and touch the massive water flow as it tumbled over the cliff. |
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| On our second day at Yellowstone, we took another route toward the famous Old Faithful Geyser. Along the way we stopped by the West Thumb Geyser Basin and were greeted by many colorful springs 'n things. |
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We encountered another water fall along our path, but missed the name. |
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After a thirty minute wait in the hot sun, Old Faithful blew its top for us |
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At the visitor center of Old Faithful we looked up and the four year old was delighted at the mud bird nests complete with baby birds. |
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Later in the afternoon, Paul went exploring and found Tower Falls along the route. |
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Towering rock formations hemmed in the falls from below. |
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A short distance from the falls, the creek merged with the Yellowstone River. |
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The last stop of the day was a road to the trail head almost at the tree line for Mt Washburn. It was too late in the day to tackle this trail. |
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| We end our visit to Yellowstone with a visit from a local deer who wishes us a bon voyage and a safe trip. On the way out of the park, we are privileged with a visit of some other four footed animals that we can't identify. |
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| Reflections on Yellowstone... from your Chief Explorer |
| Having visited Yellowstone National
Park several times in varying seasons, this is probably my last trip. The park has lost its appeal. The sites with visitor appeal are too far apart, the rules that govern people movement are too restrictive, the roads are worn out, the people lines are endless, and the recent "great fire" was the proverbial last straw. There are more foreign languages spoken in the park by visitors than speak English, so I'm ready to concede the park to that majority, and look for America's natural roots elsewhere in places with the freedom to roam at will... without the fear of being eaten by a grizzly bear, molested by a bison, or face an encounter with a mindless government bureaucrat. I don't want to be protected against my self. I want the freedom in nature to live or die from the actions that I choose to take. Yellowstone no longer allows that freedom. |
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